Chapter 55 - About to Become

"Come on, hurry up, the parade is going to start!" Alexa heard the noise of the younger ones echoing across the halls of the palace, before opening the door and leaving Father Agnello. For a moment, she compared the oppressive atmosphere of the Father's chambers with the joy of the voices outside. Cordelia and Magnus' wedding festivities officially began today, and many extravagant events were scheduled.

"Isn't Father going?"

Blue Eyes turned to her,

"Be calm, I will be with you so that you are not alone. Our tutor and tutelage deal will not end here.'

Alexa preferred not to argue now, and rectified,

"In the Bride's parade and in the procession, I mean. Didn't the Father hear the children's joy?"

The priest looked at Alexa as if he were listening to a crazy woman talking, and understanding the situation, the maiden opened the door, facing an empty corridor.

Without explaining, she just bowed in reverence and left, and then thought about joining Lady Cordelia. They had a lot to talk about.

Although her conscience logically agreed with the cunning reasoning of Blue Eyes, Alexa felt uncomfortable with the fact of breaking her word given to the English Knight.

Her feet hesitated as she headed for the ward where she was previously staying. There was a ghost maid waiting for her there, and the damsel couldn't risk dealing with her inside the castle right now. Or could she? It was definitely better to do it at once.

But before she could really decide what she would really do, Alexa was spotted by Chamberlain. He came towards her and in his trail there was a small court of servants and ladies-in-wait. The maiden was legitimately overcome with a feeling of panic.

Chamberlain was a bald and pompous nobleman, and the Greek girl thought she remembered him as part of the audience for her quasi-interrogatory. His name was Otto Wemmel, and really the only thing he did was to introduce Lady Saskia to the Chief Chambermaid. And to the body of servants who would be available to the maiden. Besides one of Chamberlain's own daughters, Maria, and his niece Edel, whom he suggested as Alexa's chaperones during the festivities, Alexa now had twelve personal servants.

But why was the maiden counting thirteen heads down and looking at the floor?

'One, two, three, ... six, eight, ten, thirteen.' she really accounted it mentally, but then she discovered the mystery. That redhead with wet hair, among the other servants.

Nerissa.

The maiden sighed.

°°°

While much of the court had already left for the port, where the First Prince's wedding festivities would begin, a private event would take place behind closed doors.

Alexa was dressed in a beautiful indigo silk outfit, and adorned with some of the jewelry she had won, in addition to a tiara made of purple irises. She was accompanied all the time and there was no opportunity where she could be alone. Prince Gutard had already acknowledged and recognized her tricks and quirks and prepared for that.

That was how the maiden met Father Agnello at the door of Alexander's apartment. The priest looked serene and supportive, and even put his hand on her shoulder for a moment, trying to calm her down. It was not very effective, because Alexa felt her legs tremble with anxiety and anticipation.

The guards opened the door, and inside, a small court awaited the arrival of Lady Alexa Zoë Saskia for mass blessing her engagement to Prince Franz Alexander Emanuel Reinhardt von Wuttenfal.

The large chamber had been adapted for the private ceremony, which involved only a small circle of people close to the royal family. Sitting were Prince Gutard and his sister, Konrad, and an empty chair where Magnus probably should have been, to the right of Alexander's bed.

The curtain was pulled back, and the Sleeping Prince maintained its beautiful appearance. Now, if such a thing were possible, Alexa would even begin to believe that he was truly spell struck.

Near the bed, too, was a group of clergymen and their helpers. By the ornate garments, Alexa recognized a high figure of the Catholic Church. It was hard not to be intimidated when the Dalassenos were persecuted and destroyed by the Church.

It was clear that the will of a sovereign strong enough was pivotal for the Church to turn a blind eye to this hasty wedding of a Prince with a suspicious stranger.

It was the Countess who called her, gently, to come closer, and when Alexa did, the woman held her hands for a moment, with a penetrating smiling glare surrounded by ascending wrinkles. Alexa believed reading in her expression conveyed a message of courage. She therefore did not know whether Countess Godiva approved or disapproved this engagement. But the maiden was grateful for that contact and for the kindness built into the gesture.

It was apparent that Konrad had made an effort to be there, even convalescent. The Duke still had a puzzled and deeply concerned expression, however, keeping his eyes at his cousin in his bed. There was a hint of horror in his eyes, and he barely took notice of Alexa.

The Sovereign Prince nodded with a half smile at her formal greeting, and allowed her to sit on the left side of the bed, 'the bride's side'.

In addition to Father Agnello di Borghesi, who sat beside her, there were black crepes and white flowers on the empty chairs that represented his family, the 'Saskias'. The nobles present were divided behind the chairs, on both sides, standing.

'What a farce.'

The Bishop then, realizing that it was about time, asked the Holstein ruler if he could start the rites, and Gutard nodded.

The maiden looked at her future husband, not sure if he was aware of what was happening there or not. When she touched his hand the other time, Alexander's soul was not close of his body. However, engagements and weddings have never needed the consent of the bride and groom before. Anyway, she wondered what his reaction would be when he woke up and found out he was married.

He had such a pale face! She noticed in awe. Alexa dared to suggest, suddenly.

"Can we open the windows a bit, before we start? The Prince needs to breathe," turning to the Bishop, she also asked, "Can we limit the use of incense to a minimum… Your Excellency?"

Both Bishop and Sovereign Prince were a little surprised, but soon agreed. It seemed to get a smile from Prince Gutard, although the maiden was not making it for any other purpose than alleviate Alexander's discomfort.

After the arrangements were made, the mass in celebration of the engagement began.

A loud knock on the door suddenly interrupted the homily. In fact, it looked like the intent was to knock the door down. Alexa was alarmed, and her hunch was confirmed when she heard the familiar voice scream,

"FATHER! I need to talk to you! LET ME IN! "

It seemed that the First Prince had a lot of urgency and fury, and Alexa felt her heart beat like a bird flapping in a cage.